{
  "id": 14588395,
  "title": "Musk points to US govt over possible Starshield slowdown",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/musk-points-to-us-govt-over-possible-starshield-slowdown",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T01:22:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/10/15/musk-points-to-us-govt-over-possible-starshield-slowdown"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Washington: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk clarified on Wednesday that any slowdown in Starshield satellite communications experienced by Ukraine is not due to shortcomings in his company's management, but rather the responsibility of the US government. Musk emphasized that Starshield systems, which Ukraine utilizes for battlefield communications, are owned and controlled by the US government, and any restrictions on speed or usage are ultimately decided by the US military and President Donald Trump. Musk differentiated between Starshield and Starlink, the civilian satellite system also deployed by Ukraine but prohibited from offensive operations. Following a post on X by Ukraine's ex-defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who reported improved Starlink connectivity but highlighted the urgency to remove Starshield's speed limit for Ukraine's defense, Ukrainian officials accused the US of potentially hindering the country's defense efforts. Opposition Democrats in US Congress condemned the Trump administration over the alleged disruptions, describing the restrictions as \"unconscionable\" given Russia's attacks on Ukrainian civilians. Senate Democrats and the Foreign Relations Committee called for an immediate halt to restrictions on Ukraine's access to Starshield, citing the threat to life. Republican Senator Tom Tillis expressed concern over the US government's potential interference in Ukraine's defense decisions, emphasizing the importance of supporting Ukrainian sovereignty.",
  "summary": "Ukrainian defence officials have suggested Washington may be behind slower internet speeds on terminals used by the military to strike Russian-occupied territory and operate interceptor drones.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Musk suggests US govt behind any slowdown in Ukraine's Starshield system",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/musk-suggests-us-govt-behind-any-slowdown-in-ukraines-starshield",
        "published": "2026-10-14T21:48:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Musk points to US govt over possible Starshield slowdown",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/musk-points-to-us-govt-over-possible-starshield-slowdown-14591887",
        "published": "2026-10-15T01:22:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}